Partridge Silkie chick from Black Pen?

[msiler]

Ok here’s a genetic mystery for everyone!
I have a fun pen of Silkies:

Rooster:
- Black (from Paint breeding) frizzled Silkie NN

Hens:
- Black Silkie
- Black Silkie
- Black Silkie
- Blue Silkie
- Blue Silkie NN
- Wheaten OEGB (not intentional but we can’t keep her out.... the Silkies are her chosen group and we have never seen the rooster show any interest in her)

And so this morning, out pops a partridge Naked Neck chick!!!
Initially I was worried that it was a Silkie OEGB cross, but the skin is so dark and the feet look exactly like a Silkie that I crossed that off. Plus the OEGB is wheaten not partridge.

My next theory was that my one Satin partridge rooster somehow got into the pen and got to my Blue NN. But that’s a no because she was broody and the pens are secure, it just couldn’t have happened.

My last theory is what I want opinions on! (Or anything else that you all can come up with). There is a black hen in there that could have potentially resulted from an accidental crossing on a black rooster x recessive white hen. If this was the case, I can assume that the white hen had a partridge base. That makes the black hen half (?) partridge (even though that doesn’t really work... just bear with me!). Then this black hen lived out her life and was eventually stuck with this Black from Paint breeding rooster - who’s black probably isn’t as “strong” as a black who came from black breeding. They crossed, and mom passed on her “partridge genes” to create this little guy.

Thoughts? On this or any other ideas!!

 

[ChloeSilkie08]

I think that there is a underlying color in your chickens. They may not be 100% pure black silkies.

 

[msiler]

I think that there is a underlying color in your chickens. They may not be 100% pure black silkies.

The only one who could is that final hen that I described in my post....
Two of the black hens came from Paint breeding from Twin Maple Ranch
The other three came from Sheri Minkner’s BBS pen.

Is it possible to create a partridge if it came from that one hen I described then even though dad is black?

 

[ChloeSilkie08]

The only one who could is that final hen that I described in my post....
Two of the black hens came from Paint breeding from Twin Maple Ranch
The other three came from Sheri Minkner’s BBS pen.

Is it possible to create a partridge if it came from that one hen I described then even though dad is black?

To be honest, genetics can do weird things when it comes to underlying colors. It could be from the wheaten.

 

[msiler]

Any other opinions on this?

 

[JustAChickenLoverOverHere]

I agree. Maybe an underlying color or one of your more colorful hens/pullets.

 

[The Moonshiner]

You can not get a partridge chick from a black parent unless it carries partridge hidden by the black. Same with blue.
If you're dealing with only blacks and blues as all potential parents then you would have to have one hen that carries it and the rooster would also have to carry it.

 

[TheCrochetChick]

I agree with your last theory... it just fits + makes total sense. What a little cutie!!!

 

[msiler]

Thanks everyone for their opinions!

You can not get a partridge chick from a black parent unless it carries partridge hidden by the black. Same with blue.
If you're dealing with only blacks and blues as all potential parents then you would have to have one hen that carries it and the rooster would also have to carry it.

Moonshiner, you seem to be very well versed in genetics. I'm learning, so I'd love to hear specifics about what a black Silkie is? Initially I thought it was two copies of extended black, so E/E. But I think I heard somewhere that in Silkies it was e^b/e^b with a bunch of melanizers which doesn't make as much sense.
If the first idea is true then that would have to make my rooster E/e^b and the hen E/e^b as well correct?

 

[MichelleHubs]

Wondering how this chick feathered out, any updates?